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Easter Marathon
April 7, 2007
Race Report by Bob Dolphin
On Saturday, April 7, 2007, I ran the Easter Marathon, my third "Bob Green Marathon" at Millersylvania State Park near Maytown, WA, since December 2006. Unlike the Christmas and Valentine Marathons, this one followed a different course. Instead of being a single out-and-back, it had a double out-and-back configuration and followed a different route.
At 9:30 a.m., thirteen fellow early starters and I began our race in the forested park. Within half a mile, we left the park and briefly headed south on Tilley Road before turning onto Maytown Road to pass through that village. After crossing I-5 by an underpass, we took a turn to the north on Case Road and passed woods and fields in a pastoral setting. Then we crossed I-5 again, this time via an overpass. The 3.5 turnback was reached in a half mile, and we reversed course to the park. It was then time to do a repeat outing of the pleasant countryside.
I enjoyed the natural history of the run when I saw a chipmunk, a flock of mallards on a flooded field and forest flowers such as skunk cabbage, trilliums, yellow violets and pink colored bleeding hearts.
The marathon was won by Marathon Maniac (MM) Gregg Walchli, 44, of Seattle who ran strong to a 3:03:29. In second place was MM Robert Lopez, 40, also of Seattle who ran a swift 3:09:12.
Merita Trohimovitch, 40, of Gig Harbor won the women's race with a 3:35:09 and was the third finisher overall. In second and third for the women (and fourth and fifth overall) were Melissa Tomlinson, 33, of Lacey with a 3:45:21 and Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs, 39, of Sammamish with a 3:48:10.
Although I felt fine, my run was a slow 6:06:10……for whatever reason.
It was good to see Gregg Walchli, Ron Fowler and Marathon Maniacs Jim Boyd, Cheri Pompei, Fenny Roberts and Jim Scheer again, a week after the March 31st Yakima River Canyon Marathon.
Congratulations to Jay Lindbergh, 55, an old friend from Tacoma, who won his age division in the 5K race with a time of 22:26. Our friends Jimmy and Shirley Smith of Bremerton were there with their children and grandchildren. Of the nine people participating in the mile race, five were Smiths who had an age range between 5 years and 64 years. They enjoyed the Easter egg hunt, and according to Shirley, "A good time was had by all."
Due to a conflict with the Marine Corps Marathon in October, I'll miss the Halloween Marathon, but I'll return to Millersylvania State Park for the Christmas Marathon for sure…..accompanied by my wife Lenore.
Volunteers (including Lenore Dolphin) for putting on another great marathon. I look forward to the next one that fits into our marathon schedule.
Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin
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